Interview with 18Dozen Founder Jennifer Magley About Turning a Breakup into an Entrepreneurship

Been dumped? Suffering from an achy heart? Need a way to jump back into the dating scene and move on with life? Visit 18Dozen.com (www.18dozen.com) for healing with a twist of tasteful humor. Try a colorful "Cock-E Calling Card" to slip your correct telephone number to a potential date. Or, find the perfect man with "Sponsor a Boyfriend" for $4.50. Even better, donate an ex-boyfriend's gifts to an online auction.

"If it's not meant to be, it's meant to be better"(c) is the motto of 18Dozen.com, the Web site and stationery line devoted to breaking up, making up and moving on. Launched in November 2006, 18Dozen.com is the brainchild of 22-year-old WTA Tour professional tennis player and entrepreneur Jennifer Magley.

Magley's inspiration? She received 18 dozen roses in December 2005 and soon after, her boyfriend "chose to be [her] ex-boyfriend." The concept for the stationery line evolved as a way to help others cope and move on following unexpected or anticipated breakups. Magley's growing support network, the "Rose Colored Thorns Creative Family," has helped her along her unexpected journey.

Tickled by 18Dozen.com's feel-good products, I recently interviewed Magley, who's currently training for the 2007 tennis season. She is a young woman still healing, yet growing personally and professionally. Magley is driven, determined and insightful with a rosy future ahead.

JA Huber: Thank you for taking the time to discuss 18Dozen.com. I need to know, have the "Cock-E Calling Cards" been tested? What have been the results? (smiles)

Jennifer Magley: The results are in on the "Cock-E Cards" and they are most definitely a gigantic hit. I have product tested these little cards and 100% of the cards that I have passed out, I have received follow up calls and dinner invitations from the recipients. Interestingly, they work for all types of personalities from shy to outgoing because of their style and language. Furthermore, my brother David who is in high school says he ran out of them the first day he went to school and every guy he knew wanted one. So, the bottom line is they transcend gender and are a fun way to make an impression.

JA Huber: There are currently two "Sponsor a Boyfriend" guys, will more boyfriends be added?

Jennifer Magley: Yes, this is one of the things I am most excited about!! There are two more "boyfriends" on the way and they are strikingly handsome and fictitiously available. In the future there will be a contest where the public will be able to submit a boyfriend to become part of the line-up and everyone will vote for the winner. In all there will be seven boyfriends to choose from for the 2007 calendar year.

JA Huber: I see on 18Dozen.com, gifts from old flames will be auctioned for charity. Will your ex's gifts be included? Will you be accepting donations?

Jennifer Magley: Great questions. I will certainly be auctioning off gifts that I have received from past boyfriends for charity, yet some rare items will be saved for a time when the site is firmly established and popular. The site will be accepting donations yet it is also possible that it will be done through eBay as they are the expert auctioneers. Spread the word if you know anyone who simply cannot wear that pearl necklace or silver fox boa without becoming a little ill.

JA Huber: Proceeds [of certain cards] will go to local [Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida area] non-profit organizations. Briefly tell me about your involvement with the Sarasota Boys & Girls Club.

Jennifer Magley: 100% of the proceeds of the cards marked "charity" will go to the Sarasota Boys & Girls Club which means the first 20 "Say it Loud" Stationary Sets and all of the "Sponsor a Boyfriend" cards until they are sold out (as long as there are boyfriends there will be cards) will benefit this charity. I have given many clinics at the Sarasota Boys & Girls Club but my main focus when I am there is to mentor an up-and-coming junior player whose future is extremely bright. I feel through the development of her game I can have the biggest impact by believing in her as she believes in herself.

JA Huber: What does your ex-boyfriend think of 18Dozen.com?

Jennifer Magley: (Laughs) Well, that is a very good question. To be honest, I'm not sure if he knows if the site exists. Yet one thing is for sure: he chose to become my ex-boyfriend with no regard to how I felt or thought. He's a big boy, I'm sure he can handle it.

JA Huber: Are you currently dating anyone? And if so, what does he think of 18Dozen.com?

Jennifer Magley: Every guy who has visited 18Dozen.com has honestly loved it so if I were to seriously date anyone in the future, I think they would find it amusing as well.

JA Huber: Who makes up the Rose Colored Thorns Creative Family? What has been their role with 18Dozen.com?

Jennifer Magley: The Rose Colored Thorns Creative Family is a team of people that came together organically when a crisis arose. Honestly, their role is to help foster an environment where creativity can thrive through continual brainstorming, testing, and constructive criticism. In a broader sense, the Thorns Creative Family is extending every day that I meet new people that love the site and support the concept of healing through humor from a break up. While the inner circle includes some who choose to remain nameless, for obvious reasons, I can name my mother, father and cousin Kelly and sister Jessica as founding members.

JA Huber: Where do you see 18Dozen.com a year from now?

Jennifer Magley: Fully integrated and generating interest with each product release. I believe this concept will become an influential brand due to the fact that everyone who has truly loved and completely made themselves vulnerable will be able to relate. In the future, I see a "Break Up" bash, clothing, short films, and a big smile on many faces including mine. Also, a year from now I'm hoping to have my abridged memoir published as this is not the only peculiar experience I have had in my life.

JA Huber: You are an extremely active gal. What is your inspiration?

Jennifer Magley: Personally, I am tired of witnessing people being what I call "done wrong" and are expected by society to take it sitting down. As it says on the site "don't get bitter, get creative." I suppose injustice inspires me and the greatest injustice is theft. The theft of our trust, our lives, our time, our emotions, is what most affects us at our core. Thus by treating someone without regard is ultimately reducing them to a state which is not humane. I have felt this way before and it was out of this place of utter disappointment that my inspiration sprung forth.

JA Huber: Thank you, Jennifer. I'm off to do a little shopping; 18Dozen.com gives a whole new meaning to retail therapy.